Higher education consortium schedules official launch at Rutgers Nov. 16
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Jersey Shore notwithstanding, higher education may be the state’s greatest attraction, particularly for international students. That is the mindset of Rutgers University and 23 other New Jersey institutions that have joined forces to bring more international students to their schools through a federally initiated program called "Study New Jersey."The consortium, which includes two- and four-year public and private institutions and training institutes, will officially launch Study New Jersey at the Rutgers Visitor Center on the Busch Campus, Piscataway at a special event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 16. College and university presidents and federal officials are expected to attend.
"The presence of international students in our colleges and universities helps to build lifelong friends for the United States," said Courtney McAnuff, vice president for enrollment management at Rutgers, who has coordinated the formation of Study New Jersey with the U.S. Commercial Service. "The diverse viewpoints they bring to the classroom help students learn how to succeed in a world that has grown much smaller thanks to the ways we travel, do business and communicate."
International students and their families also bring significant economic benefits to their host schools and states in contributions from tuition, fees and living expenses. In New Jersey, the net contribution to the state economy for 2008-09 was $435,719,000, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The group, which promotes international education, estimated the contribution to the U.S. economy at $17.6 billion.
For international students, the benefits are also significant. A degree from an American college or university can be the key to high level jobs and economic success in their native countries, McAnuff said. Families may spend thousands of dollars so their children can take the SAT, sometimes outside their own countries.
During the 2008-09 academic year, 14,783 international students were enrolled at institutions in New Jersey. With 2,539 international graduate and undergraduate students, Rutgers’ New Brunswick Campus had the largest number and was ranked 48th in the country for international enrollment, according to the 2009 Open Doors report published by the International Institute of Education. The Newark and Camden campuses had a total of 774 international students.
Study New Jersey members would like to see these numbers grow on their campuses. They are working with the U.S. Commercial Service, the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, to help them move forward. The federal entity works with similar initiatives in Illinois, Oregon, Washington and other states.
The U.S. Commercial Service is involved in promoting U.S. exports, and education plays an important role in the economy as a service export, according to Joel Reynoso, director the service’s local New Jersey office. Reynoso says New Jersey competes well internationally.
"In 2009, New Jersey increased its international student population by 7.4%, to more than 14,000 students from all over the world," Reynoso said. "We compete quite well with other states because of our geography and strong emphasis on the sciences."
Already, Study New Jersey has hosted international education consultants from markets as diverse as Brazil and Morocco on state tours.
The Study New Jersey website, features a list of the member institutions and links to their websites. It also includes information on visas, the state’s demographics, scenic attractions and available degrees, along with testimonials by international students. Future plans include translating the website into several languages. In addition, information about the state’s higher education institutions will be made available at American embassies and consulates around the world, Reynoso said.
Currently, graduate students comprise the majority of international students at Rutgers. Study New Jersey aims to increase the number of undergraduates as well.
"International students add an important dimension to the educational experience for American students," McAnuff said. "Their presence affects the quality and content of class discussions, offering all students the opportunity to view subject matter from different perspectives outside their own cultural norms. It’s a win-win for everyone."
Media Contact: Sandra Lanman
732-932-7084, ext. 621
E-mail: slanman@ur.rutgers.edu